finasteride and Avodart.

[fleshpull]

Not exactly an HRT question but I wasn't sure where to put this. I'm still a boy, no hormones etc.
I've been on finasteride for 5-6 months and I don't feel like its doing much. I was hoping to see some regrowth (I know that's not guaranteed) but I've got none. I think I'm still thinning but that could just be a shedding cycle. I'm thinking about getting on Avodart. Has anyone taken both drugs together? 
Finasteride has not wrecked my sexlife/drive and I'm hoping Avodart will not either.

[Beep]

While these are most likely questions you should be asking a doctor, I'll give you my unprofessional opinions:
I don't think you should take both finasteride and dutasteride (Avodart) together. Take one or the other. From what I've heard, dutasteride blocks a much higher percentage of DHT production than finasteride does, so if you believe finasteride is not enough to help hair thinning problems, definitely think about taking Avodart instead.

Personally, my experience with Avodart was a bad one, but then again I had already been taking spironolactone and estradiol-17 for months when I starting using Avodart, and everyone will experience different results.
Most of the people here who admit to taking Avodart have given positive feedback for it.

[fleshpull]

since Avodart is not usually used for hair loss prevention, will having it prescribed for that purpose be difficult?

[Sirenia]

I thought Dutasteride was prescribed exactly to counter hair loss? Since it functions similarly to finasteride.

[Buggy-pie]

Hi,

I started using Finasteride back in '02, then switched to Dutasteride somewhere in '03 - '04.  It wasnt at that time, prescribed for hair loss however, my GP at the time was very understanding so had no problem with prescribing it.

So, always worth a go and asking the bod that matters!

Nat

[Raya]

(Wiiise fwom youa gwaaave!)

I'm not a doctor, but you should definitely talk to one. As far as I know, hair loss-wise, everything finasteride can do dutasteride can do better. Taking both is a waste of time. If you want to switch though, there are some downsides (US centric I know):

• Cost. GSK has an active patent on it.
• A (slight but significantly) worse side-effect profile
• Dutasteride isn't FDA approved for MPB, so the only strength on the market is for prostate care (c.f. Proscar vs. Propecia).
• (AFAIK) Dustasteride only comes in gelcaps, so you can't just cut them up.

If you're looking to boost your current regimen, have you ever looked into Minoxidil a.k.a. R(e|o)gaine?

[Steffi]

A generic Dutasteride copy called Dutagen which is less than a fifth the price of Avodart has come onto the market in the last few weeks. 
Inhouse Pharmacy posts the information on it etc.

[fleshpull]

Sweet, thanks!

Ive got a consult for a scalp advance in a couple weeks (I don't think I can afford it for about another year, but never hurts to start planning now) I'll try to get them to write me a script for it w/o a visit to my GP.